BYU gymnastics: Wensel shines on Senior Night

By Rachel Hawks
For the Deseret News

Published: Saturday, March 2 2013 12:30 a.m. MST

PROVO, Utah — Senior Sarah Yandow Wensel recorded a career-high mark on the uneven bars in her final performance in Provo, helping the BYU women's gymnastics team to a second-place finish and a 195.500 in the tri-team meet and the Deseret First Duel on Senior Night Friday at the Marriott Center.

"The atmosphere is always good in the Marriott Center – we really enjoy it in here," BYU head coach Brad Cattermole said. "If anything the girls get a little too hyped up. They’re always very excited to compete here. Our seniors did really well tonight – we gave away a few points in landings so they just need to hold still. We’re working on that and still looking to improve so we’re on the right track."

BYU's 195.500 was the team’s second-best mark this season and the fourth time the Cougars have topped 195 this year.

Utah finished with a 197.125 overall score to win the meet and the Deseret First Duel Trophy for gymnastics, while North Carolina State finished in third with a 194.675.

After the first rotation, BYU was in second with a 49.000 behind Utah with a 49.050. Makenzie Johnson and Eliane Kulczyk led the team on vault, each with a 9.825.

The Cougars showed up strong on the bars, with stunning performances from Wensel and Haylee Rollins, who each earned a 9.850. In addition to Wensel’s career record, Kulczyk also had a career showing on bars with a personal best 9.825. The Cougars had their strongest performance of the meet on bars with a 49.025 team score.

On the beam, freshmen Johnson and Summer Raymond led the Cougars with 9.800 each. BYU’s 48.450 on beam gave the Cougars a 146.475 overall score.

Still in second place going into the final rotation behind the Utes, BYU took to the floor for one last chance at the Deseret Duel trophy. Rollins earned the third-best score of the night with her floor routine, taking a 9.875 to tie her career high and set a new season high. BYU tied its best mark of the night with another 49.025 on the floor.

Raquel Willman finished in second in the all-around with a 39.050 mark. Utah gymnast Tory Wilson took the all-around competition with a 39.450.

BYU has three road meets left in the regular season. Monday the team heads north to take on in-state opponent Utah State at 7 p.m. MST.